Weekly vs Fortnightly Gardening: Which Does Your Garden Need?

Why Visit Frequency Matters

The frequency of gardening visits is one of the most important decisions you will make. Visit too often and you are paying for work that does not need doing. Visit too rarely and the garden gets out of hand between visits, making each visit more expensive as the gardener spends time catching up rather than maintaining.

The right frequency depends on three things: your budget, your standards, and the type of garden. A small courtyard garden with low standards can be maintained monthly. A large formal garden with high standards needs weekly visits. Most family gardens in the Chilterns are best with fortnightly visits from March to October and monthly through winter.

Weekly Visits: Pros and Cons

Pros

• The garden always looks immaculate
• Lawn is mowed at the optimal frequency (weekly in the growing season)
• Weeds are caught before they set seed
• Pests and diseases are spotted early
• The gardener knows the garden intimately
• Ideal for formal gardens, large gardens, and gardens with high standards

Cons

• Costs twice as much as fortnightly
• May be unnecessary for low-maintenance gardens
• The gardener may have less to do in slow weeks

Fortnightly Visits: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Most popular choice for family gardens
• Good balance of cost and garden appearance
• Lawn is mowed often enough to stay healthy
• Weeds are caught before they get too big
• The gardener has enough to do each visit to be efficient

Cons

• The garden can look untidy between visits in peak growth
• Lawn may need mowing between visits in May and June
• Not suitable for formal gardens or large gardens

Monthly Visits: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Cheapest option
• Suitable for low-maintenance gardens
• Suitable for winter maintenance (November to February)
• Suitable for small courtyard gardens

Cons

• The garden will look untidy between visits in the growing season
• Lawn will be too long between cuts
• Weeds will set seed between visits
• Not suitable for family gardens in the growing season

Which Frequency Is Right for Your Garden?

Cost Comparison

Note: This is for a 4-hour visit . Actual costs vary by garden size and complexity.

The Hybrid Approach

Many Chiltern clients use a hybrid approach: weekly visits in the peak growing season (May to July) and fortnightly for the rest of the year. This gives the garden the attention it needs when growth is fastest, without paying for weekly visits all year.

Another hybrid is fortnightly maintenance visits with a monthly "tidy" visit for leaf clearance, hedge trimming, or other seasonal jobs. This keeps the regular maintenance cost down while making sure seasonal jobs are done.

Signs You Need to Change Frequency

Signs you need more frequent visits:

• The lawn is too long between cuts
• Weeds are flowering between visits
• The garden looks untidy by the end of the second week
• Hedges are getting out of shape
• You are spending your weekends catching up

Signs you can reduce frequency:

• The gardener is finishing early each visit
• The garden looks the same at the end of two weeks as it did at one
• You are paying for visits that do not seem necessary

Common Mistakes

• Choosing the cheapest option. Monthly visits in the growing season will leave the garden looking untidy. Choose fortnightly at least from March to October.
• Choosing the most expensive option. Weekly visits may be unnecessary for a low-maintenance garden. Start with fortnightly and adjust.
• Not adjusting for the seasons. Most gardens need more visits in the growing season and fewer in winter.
• Not communicating with your gardener. If the frequency is not working, talk to your gardener. Most issues are communication problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch between weekly and fortnightly?

Yes, with notice. We ask for 30 days notice to change a regular schedule. Many clients switch to weekly in May and June, then back to fortnightly for the rest of the year.

Is fortnightly enough for a family garden?

For most family gardens (100 to 300 sqm), fortnightly is enough from March to October. You may need to mow the lawn between visits in May and June when growth is fastest.

What about winter maintenance?

Monthly visits from November to February are usually enough. The garden is dormant and there is less to do. See our December garden jobs guide.

Get Help Choosing the Right Frequency

If you are not sure what frequency is right for your garden in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire or Bedfordshire, send us a WhatsApp with photos and we will aim to respond within 12 to 36 hours, Monday to Sunday.

Further Reading

• How often should a gardener visit?
• How much does regular garden maintenance cost?
• Regular maintenance for large gardens
• How to prepare for professional maintenance

Sources and citations

This article draws on the following sources. Specific claims are cited inline where relevant.

1. CGM field records (2024-02. Site observations from gardens across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire.
2. Royal Horticultural Society (2024). RHS Gardening Advice and Plant Finder. Available at rhs.org.uk.
3. Met Office (2024). Regional climate averages, South East England. Available at metoffice.gov.uk.
4. British Geological Survey (2024). Soil parent material data for the Chilterns and Thames Valley. Available at bgs.ac.uk.